Bangalore survive scare to keep playoff hopes alive

Keeping that in mind, Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will have to give their best to beat SRH and keep their playoff dreams alive.

Kohli and ace South African batsman AB De Villiers are RCB's key players as far as the batting in concerned.

While RCB will be looking to emulate CSK's tactics against the Sunrisers bowlers, Kane Williamson would want his men to make a quick comeback. The main battle will clearly be between Sunrisers Hyderabad's bowlers and Royal Challengers Bangalore batsmen. AB de Villiers and skipper Kohli have been in menacing form with the bat and they would have to bare their fangs yet again.

But New Zealander Colin de Grandhomme (40 from 17; 4x1, 6x4) and teenaged Sarfaraz Khan (22 not out from 8; 4x3, 6x1) lit up the stadium with some late order fireworks, to ensure the home side crossed the 200-run mark with a quick-fire 34-run stand.

On the other hand, the hosts made a decision to go with an unchanged XI at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here. Sunrisers Hyderabad are already assured of a play-off berth, but would look to try out their reserve bench strength in the marquee clash against RCB.

And for both teams to achieve their respective targets, Kohli, De Villiers (RCB) and Sandeep (SRH) will definitely have a huge say in the outcome of the match. The RCB v SRH match will begin its live telecast from 8 pm, whereas the Toss is scheduled to take place at 7.30 pm. After two scores of 45 in his first two matches, Alex Hales has hit a bit of a rough patch and has only managed 21 runs from his next three outings.

This is a knockout game for RCB as if they loses this game, they can finish at a maximum of 12 points which is definitely not enough to qualify for the playoffs. It turned out to be a forgettable day for Thampi as he conceded the most runs by a bowler in an innings in the history of T20.

In the corresponding away fixture last week, the Hyderabad outfit had handed RCB a demoralising five-run defeat.

Kane Williamson 81 (42) and Manish Pandey 62 (38) nearly managed to tip the game to their side, but Bangalore's bowler managed to hold them back even in the death overs.

Star Sports will provide live television coverage of the match in India. The match completely changed in RCB's favour as Siraj dismissed Kane Williamson for 81 runs on the first ball of the 20 over.